Call-In Procedure and Executive Scrutiny - Liverpool

Land Use and Zoning England 4 Minutes Read · published February 12, 2026 Flag of England

This guide explains the call-in procedure and scrutiny of executive decisions in Liverpool, England, for councillors, council committees and residents. It summarises how decisions can be examined, the roles of overview and scrutiny arrangements, the practical steps to initiate a call-in, and the typical outcomes of scrutiny meetings. Where specific figures or deadlines are not published on the city’s official pages, the text states that they are "not specified on the cited page" and points to the controlling documents and statutory framework for the procedure. The primary municipal source is the Liverpool City Council constitution and the council’s scrutiny pages.[1] The governing statutory framework is the Local Government Act 2000 as amended.[2]

Use the council constitution and the overview and scrutiny pages to confirm eligibility before submitting a call-in.

Overview of the Call-In Procedure

Call-in is a mechanism that allows certain executive decisions to be reviewed by the council’s overview and scrutiny function before they are implemented. Typical scope covers key executive or cabinet decisions published in the council’s decision list; procedural eligibility, exclusions and the exact steps to call in a decision are set out in the council constitution and overview and scrutiny rules.[1]

  • Deadline to lodge a call-in: not specified on the cited page; consult the constitution for the working-day period and exclusions.[1]
  • Who may call in: councillors designated by the overview and scrutiny rules or a specified number of signatories as set by the constitution.
  • Where to submit notices: contact the council’s democratic services or scrutiny team as listed on the council site.

Penalties & Enforcement

Call-in and scrutiny are procedural and remedial processes rather than regulatory offence regimes; the constitution and scrutiny rules focus on review, recommendation and referral of decisions rather than monetary penalties. Specific fines or fixed penalty amounts are not specified on the cited page for call-in-related failures or procedural breaches; those pages describe how decisions are reviewed and what steps follow a successful call-in.[1]

  • Monetary fines: not specified on the cited page.
  • Escalation: the constitution explains escalation from scrutiny recommendations to referral back to the decision-maker or full council; exact remedies are set in the rules.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: possible outcomes include referral for reconsideration, recommendations to alter decisions, or referral of matters to full council for further action.
  • Enforcer / responsible officer: democratic services, overview and scrutiny officers and the council’s monitoring officer administer the process; use the council contact pages to make formal submissions.
  • Appeals and review: procedural reviews are handled through the council’s internal governance arrangements; judicial review of a decision in the courts remains a separate legal route (time limits for judicial review follow national rules, not the constitution).
Call-in remedies focus on review and referral, not fines, unless other statutory offences apply.

Applications & Forms

The council constitution and scrutiny pages set out notice requirements; a specific standard council form for call-in is not specified on the cited page. Submit the call-in notice or request by the route listed on the council’s democratic services or scrutiny contact page, or follow the published committee procedures.[1]

Practical Steps and What to Expect

  • Check publication: confirm the decision appears on the executive decision list or cabinet forward plan.
  • Prepare your justification: cite reasons tied to policy, legal compliance or financial impact.
  • Contact democratic services: follow the submission route on the council’s scrutiny pages.
  • Await scheduling: the overview and scrutiny committee will decide whether to take the item for review and set a meeting.
Record the date you received the decision notice to verify any working-day deadlines for call-in.

FAQ

Who can call in an executive decision?
Eligible councillors or scrutiny members as specified by the Liverpool City Council constitution and overview and scrutiny rules.
How long do I have to call in a decision?
Specific working-day deadlines are detailed in the constitution; if no deadline is clearly published on the relevant page, it is noted as not specified and you should consult democratic services.
What happens after a call-in is accepted?
The scrutiny committee reviews the decision, may make recommendations, refer the matter back to the decision-maker, or escalate to full council depending on the constitution’s procedures.

How-To

  1. Identify the executive decision and check the council’s decision list or cabinet minutes for the decision details.
  2. Confirm eligibility under the Liverpool City Council constitution and overview and scrutiny rules.
  3. Prepare a written call-in notice setting out the grounds and submit it to democratic services or the scrutiny team by the published route.
  4. Attend the scrutiny meeting if invited, or follow the published outcome and any referral back to the decision-maker.
  5. If necessary, seek legal advice about judicial review or other legal remedies once internal routes are exhausted.

Key Takeaways

  • Call-in is a governance remedy focused on review, not fines.
  • Use democratic services and the scrutiny pages for formal submissions and contacts.

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